Sunnyvale man killed in Monday motorcycle crash identified

MOUNTAIN VIEW -- A motorcyclist who was killed when he rear-ended a car on Highway 85 early Monday evening has been identified as Mitsutoshi Nakahara, 41, of Sunnyvale.

Investigators believe Nakahara was splitting lanes in stop-and-go traffic on a 2004 Triumph around 5:11 p.m. when he hit the rear of a Mini Cooper. Nakahara landed in the roadway while his motorcycle burst into flames and stopped traffic.

He was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of the collision, not the fire, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Lane splitting is the practice of straddling a lane divider to move through slower traffic. It is legal in California.

CHP officials said alcohol and drugs do not appear to be factors in the crash, and the San Jose woman who was driving the car is not facing any charges at this point.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call the CHP at 650-369-6267.